South Florida Paintball players please look!!!!

Hey everyone, I would like to open a Paintball Park here is South Florida, and to be honest Im scared. I worry that the interest in paintball has died out here. I have managed successful fields in North Carolina over the past 15 years so I have the experience and knowledge. But putting everything I own on the line has me hesitate. I need some feedback from you guys. Tell me your views please.

The location would be in the area of Dade county to Broward county. It will be outside with 2 psp fields, 1 combat course and 1 woodsball field.

idk how it is in South Florida But Here in Southwest Florida The crowds have been getting bigger and bigger.People are starting to play alot more.I know BYOP also helps a ton.People hate paying 50+ for white box.

I agree with srt. Here in Miami there is a lot of players that don't have a place to play and or play renegade due to the byop rule and the fields not being set up for different type of play. They are either on woodsball or only speedball. There are also some that cater more to one than another and leaves the other field to rot. I believe we need a field in these parts that is well organize and not bias to one type of play.

Another thing you've got to realize is, that you're opening something that will have very little return. Especially with in your first year. Most of your money will be spent on advertising and intial start up costs. Your biggest key to suceeding is not forgetting the little guy. The kids who come out for birthday parties and church events will be your biggest profit. Of course you don't want to forget the speedballer as they are sort of an attraction for the rec ballers, but just remember to spread your attention to everyone. That's my tid bit of advice.

Ya the biggest thing is to have something good for every type of player! I know walk ons are good money and there's a lot of them in Miami!! But for us PSP/cfps players in Miami, we Don't have a field! me and my team always have to travel to hotshots, ER ft. Myers, or to Cfps in Lakeland to have a field to play on and to play other teams like us!

I think this is a great idea and Just what Miami paintball needs!!!! Good luck!!!

You just need to remember that to make money you gotta have money. If you open up a half-effort paintball field than your not gonna get a good turn out. If you start something up that can only be found at your field (turf, Scenario play, tournament's) and so on, then the field will grow exponentially in my opinion. Good luck to you!

Start-up costs depends on how well and how fancy you build? For me it is costing about 75k..... As to what is all involved, you are gonna have to look that up or read one of the sticky threads. I dont have enough time to explain everything Im dealing with. Its not easy at all just to let you know.

Permits are a big issue as well. And now anywhere in SF, land is a premium, unused land in the correct zone to build a paintball field is even more expensive. 75k is about right which isnt easy to obtain a loan for, and there are alot of hassles and aggravation in having a field. Not to mention the legal industry is very anti industry and pro consumer, what that means is most cases side with the customer even if they did sign a waiver.

Permits are a big issue as well. And now anywhere in SF, land is a premium, unused land in the correct zone to build a paintball field is even more expensive. 75k is about right which isnt easy to obtain a loan for, and there are alot of hassles and aggravation in having a field. Not to mention the legal industry is very anti industry and pro consumer, what that means is most cases side with the customer even if they did sign a waiver.

Waivers mean basically nothing in Florida. You cannot sign away your rights to litigate over neglegence no matter how it happened, or who may or may not appear at fault.
Best you can hope for is to have the proper insurance coverages in place and enforce rules as a preventative measure.

Waivers mean basically nothing in Florida. You cannot sign away your rights to litigate over neglegence no matter how it happened, or who may or may not appear at fault.
Best you can hope for is to have the proper insurance coverages in place and enforce rules as a preventative measure.

(in hushed tones - author is a non-lawyer spokesperson)

I did not know that, its a little different in NC. Thanks Ken, I will make sure I bring this up to my insurance.

Ken is right. In FL it's seen as the Wild West (I have a 220 adjusters license) when it comes to tort statutes. Anyone can make ANY claim against an insurance policy and juries are very sim pathetic especially in SF. It sucks because you do everything you can to make it safe but that one kid doesn't pay attention and falls over a bunker and his mom thinks its a lottery ticket.

Hope it is successful. I have been looking into doing something similar after I retire from the military. I have been looking in to grass alternatives which has a huge up front cost compared to seeding, but it is safer and drains much faster than real grass. You really need to do things that separate yourself from other fields. It is hot in Florida and it rains a lot, another idea that crossed my mind was a pavilion over one of the speedball fields. Just some ideas, and good luck.